Possible?: 2009 8-Core -to- W3680 6-core?

[rchaney]

From a newbie:

I'd like to buy a 2009 and make this upgrade. There are a couple 8-cores available at a decent price. Can the 8-core be replaced with one 6-core... and "remove" or "cap" the other 4 cores.

I'm assuming here that the 2009 has two processors-with-housings.

Want to install the Intel Xeon W3680 3.33GHz 12MB.

THANKS!!!

-=Ralph

 

[GP-SE]

Get the 4 core model for cheaper then upgrade to the 6 core.

 

[PowerPCMacMan]

I agree.. Upgrading a dual 2009 to dual 2010 is going to be more expensive and by the time you are done you would be better off trading up to the 2010/2012.. Single quad to 6-core is the best cost effective method of upgrading.

I, and many others have done this before time and time again.

Get the 4 core model for cheaper then upgrade to the 6 core.

 

[MacVidCards]

The Apple dual CPU boards will boot with a single processor only installed and run just fine, for about 45 seconds. Then the fans will go to "hurricane force" mode and drown out all other sounds in the room.

OWC has a service to trade in your entire CPU tray for a different one. Have a careful look at your children. One of them was probably going to turn out badly anyhow, they will be required for payment.

The single CPU tray is a completely different part with different heat sink, only the RAM can be kept.

I have often wondered why people don't advise upgrades to go with the Dual QPI CPUs. Say you get a 3680 and decide you want 12 cores, your only choice is to get the whole tray and 2 @ 5680 whereas you could have bought a single 5680 to begin with and left yourself the option to get another along with Dual tray.

 

[Umbongo]

The Apple dual CPU boards will boot with a single processor only installed and run just fine, for about 45 seconds. Then the fans will go to "hurricane force" mode and drown out all other sounds in the room.

OWC has a service to trade in your entire CPU tray for a different one. Have a careful look at your children. One of them was probably going to turn out badly anyhow, they will be required for payment.

The single CPU tray is a completely different part with different heat sink, only the RAM can be kept.

I have often wondered why people don't advise upgrades to go with the Dual QPI CPUs. Say you get a 3680 and decide you want 12 cores, your only choice is to get the whole tray and 2 @ 5680 whereas you could have bought a single 5680 to begin with and left yourself the option to get another along with Dual tray.

X5680s were $1,000 more and are still $250+ more usually, even with the cheapest eBay pricing.

 

[Tesselator]

The Apple dual CPU boards will boot with a single processor only installed and run just fine, for about 45 seconds. Then the fans will go to "hurricane force" mode and drown out all other sounds in the room.

OWC has a service to trade in your entire CPU tray for a different one. Have a careful look at your children. One of them was probably going to turn out badly anyhow, they will be required for payment.

The single CPU tray is a completely different part with different heat sink, only the RAM can be kept.

I have often wondered why people don't advise upgrades to go with the Dual QPI CPUs. Say you get a 3680 and decide you want 12 cores, your only choice is to get the whole tray and 2 @ 5680 whereas you could have bought a single 5680 to begin with and left yourself the option to get another along with Dual tray.

There should be a resource online which shows all of the different possible configurations graphically (with part numbers and etc.) - so folks can visualize this and obtain a clear understanding.

The way it is now it's like, everyone is wondering what CPUs will work on which daughter cards in which base model. It's very confusing, even for me.

 

[PowerPCMacMan]

Because OWC charges an arm and a leg for upgrading to a dual set up. But I am comparing this with people who don't have a lot of money to spend.. But either way, going from a single to a dual is going to be expensive and not cost effective say the least.

The Apple dual CPU boards will boot with a single processor only installed and run just fine, for about 45 seconds. Then the fans will go to "hurricane force" mode and drown out all other sounds in the room.

OWC has a service to trade in your entire CPU tray for a different one. Have a careful look at your children. One of them was probably going to turn out badly anyhow, they will be required for payment.

The single CPU tray is a completely different part with different heat sink, only the RAM can be kept.

I have often wondered why people don't advise upgrades to go with the Dual QPI CPUs. Say you get a 3680 and decide you want 12 cores, your only choice is to get the whole tray and 2 @ 5680 whereas you could have bought a single 5680 to begin with and left yourself the option to get another along with Dual tray.

 

[Tesselator]

Because OWC charges an arm and a leg ...

And arm and a leg won't cover it there. More like the internal organs from your entire family and your neighbors family too.

On the upside, at least visiting their pages makes everyone else's look like wholesale discounters.

 

[PowerPCMacMan]

How true!!!

And arm and a leg won't cover it there. More like the internal organs from your entire family and your neighbors family too.

On the upside, at least visiting their pages makes everyone else's look like wholesale discounters.

 

[MacProFreak]

Yep, the advice above about upgrading a single processor Mac Pro is better IMHO as well. I did just that. Found a Mac Pro quad 2010 2.8GHz, snatched for $1,500 and dropped a W3690 six core at 3.46GHz and the machine is running super. Have 2 Samsungs 840 Pros (OS-X and Win 7) and I'm very happy with this setup.

 

[rchaney]

...
OWC has a service to trade in your entire CPU tray for a different one. Have a careful look at your children. One of them was probably going to turn out badly anyhow, they will be required for payment.

Very funny. I did ask the kids which one would like to work at OWC for the rest of their life. All three jumped at the chance...! Though the only other option I offered was being a subject for scientific experimentation (a la The Meaning of Life). These kids today...